Linger

It isn't difficult
to understand poetry.

It takes a straight read.

It demands
an ability to maneuver
steep, twisted, treacherous
mountain roads.
Sometimes, we meet
others in our descent
and need to reverse
our course back
to the origin.

Start again.

Other times, it is like
the gentle curves
and valleys
of a woman's body
with all of its peaks
and recesses
that warrant attention.

Linger.

It isn't difficult
to understand poetry.